Method and system for using a video relay service with deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired called parties

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for enabling indirect person-to-person calls between deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired (D-HOH-SI) inmates in a correctional institution and D-HOH-SI called parties outside the correctional institution. A man-in-the-middle approach enables a complete separation of the inmate and called party, preventing any possible non-ASL communications between them, thereby ensuring the safety and security of inmates, called parties, and the public in general. Standard restrictions on allowed called parties are implemented, along with protection of confidential calls from being recorded. A first VRS system enables video communication between the inmate and the man-in-the-middle who is a sign language interpreter, while a second video communications system enables video communication between the man-in-the-middle and the called party. No direct video contact between the inmate and called party is allowed or required.

I claim as follows: 
     
       1. A system for making indirect video calls between a deaf, hard of hearing, and/or speech impaired (D-HOH-SI) user of a video relay service (VRS) system and a D-HOH-SI called party, comprising:
 a first video link, including:
 a first VRS client at a corrections facility for use by the D-HOH-SI user; and 
 a second VRS client for use by a sign language interpreter (SLI); and 
 
 a second video link, including:
 a first video communications terminal for use by the SLI; and 
 a second video communications terminal for use by the D-HOH-SI called party; 
 
 in which the D-HOH-SI called party and the D-HOH-SI user of the first VRS client cannot see each other during the VRS call. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein in the first video link, the first VRS client comprises a first video capture device; and wherein in the first video link, the second VRS client comprises a second video capture device. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein in the first video link, the first VRS client comprises a first display for displaying images of the SLI acquired with the second video capture device; and wherein in the first video link, the second VRS client comprises a second display for displaying images of the user acquired with the first video capture device. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein in the second video link, the first video communications terminal comprises a third video capture device; and wherein in the second video link, the second video communications terminal comprises a fourth video capture device. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein in the second video link, the first video communications terminal comprises a third display for displaying images of the called party acquired with the fourth video capture device; and wherein in the second video link, the second video communications terminal comprises a fourth display for displaying images of the SLI acquired with the third video capture device. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein in the first video link, the second video capture device is configured not to acquire images from the third display; and wherein in the second video link, the third video capture device is configured not to acquire images from the second display. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first video link further comprises a rules gateway; and wherein the rules gateway stores calling information for users at the corrections facility. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein in the first video link, the calling information stored in the rules gateway comprises a list of allowed called party phone numbers, wherein the called party phone numbers have indications of confidentiality or non-confidentiality; and a classification of the user being D-HOH-SI or non-D-HOH-SI. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first video link further comprises a recording system, the recording system being configured to record video calls conducted over the first video link, wherein video calls to calling parties indicated as confidential in the data stored in the rules gateway are prevented from being recorded. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second VRS client and the first video communications terminal are comprised in a single device. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second VRS client and the first video communications terminal are separate devices. 
     
     
       12. A method for making indirect video calls between a deaf, hard of hearing, and/or speech impaired (D-HOH-SI) user of a video relay service (VRS) system and a D-HOH-SI called party, the method comprising:
 providing a first video link, including:
 a first VRS client at the corrections facility for use by the D-HOH-SI user; and 
 a second VRS client for use by a sign language interpreter (SLI); 
 
 providing a second video link, including:
 a first video communications terminal for use by the SLI; and 
 a second video communications terminal for use by the D-HOH-SI called party; 
 
 initiating a VRS call between the first VRS client and the second VRS client; 
 initiating a video call between the first video communications terminal and the second video communications terminal; 
 communicating between the D-HOH-SI user and the SLI by use of sign language through the first video link; and 
 communicating between the SLI and the D-HOH-SI called party by use of sign language through the second video link; 
 in which the D-HOH-SI called party and the D-HOH-SI user of the first VRS client cannot see each other during the VRS call. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein providing the first video link further comprises configuring the first VRS client to include a first video capture device; and configuring the second VRS client to include a second video capture device. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein providing the first video link further comprises configuring the first VRS client to include a first display for displaying images acquired with the second video capture device; and configuring the second VRS client to include a second display for displaying images acquired with the first video capture device. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein providing the second video link further comprises configuring the first video communications terminal to include a third video capture device; and configuring the second video communications terminal to include a fourth video capture device. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein providing the second video link further comprises configuring the first video communications terminal to include a third display for displaying images acquired with the fourth video capture device; and configuring the second video communications terminal to include a fourth display for displaying images acquired with the third video capture device. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing the first video link further comprises configuring the second video capture device not to acquire images from the third display, and configuring the third video capture device not to acquire images from the second display. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , wherein providing the first video link further comprises a rules gateway; and wherein the rules gateway stores calling information for users at the corrections facility. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein providing the first video link further comprises configuring the calling information stored in the rules gateway to include a list of allowed called party phone numbers; wherein the called party phone numbers have indications of confidentiality or non-confidentiality and a classification of the user being D-HOH-SI or non-D-HOH-SI. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein providing the first video link further comprises a recording system, the recording system being configured to record video calls conducted over the first video link, wherein video calls to calling parties indicated as confidential in the data stored in the rules gateway are prevented from being recorded. 
     
     
       21. A method for making indirect video calls between a deaf, hard of hearing, and/or speech impaired (D-HOH-SI) user and a D-HOH-SI called party, the method comprising:
 providing a first video link, between the D-HOH-SI user and a sign language interpreter (SLI); 
 providing a second video link, between the SLI and the D-HOH-SI called party; 
 configuring the first and second video links to prevent any video interaction; 
 initiating a video call between the D-HOH-SI user and the SLI; 
 initiating a video call between the SLI and the D-HOH-SI called party; 
 communicating between the D-HOH-SI user and the SLI by use of sign language through the first video link; and 
 communicating between the SLI and the D-HOH-SI called party by use of sign language through the second video link; 
 in which the D-HOH-SI called party and the D-HOH-SI user of the first VRS client cannot see each other during the VRS call.